Toughen the penalties
Even before the gag order on the state comptroller's report on violations of campaign financing laws was lifted on Wednesday, most journalists already knew the bad guy was Likud MK Oren Hazan. No one had leaked this to the press -- it was just a general feeling that if not Hazan, who else could it be-
Such an approach is usually unacceptable, as it undermines the presumption of innocence that every person deserves. However, in this case, it was implicit and not because anyone was familiar with Hazan's expenditures during the Likud primaries, but rather because he has earned himself a bad reputation as a public official.
Hazan is stuck with this reputation for good reason. He has repeatedly failed to stay clean during the short time he has been a Knesset member.
No one expects Hazan to get off scot-free on the latest matter. And several hours before the publication of the state comptroller's report, which could lead to a possible three-year prison sentence for Hazan, the Knesset Ethics Committee barred him from attending Knesset sessions for a month due to his mocking of Yesh Atid MK Karin Elharrar over her disability.
How many more shenanigans will Hazan pull before he is stopped? How long will it be before the coalition and opposition decide together to nullify him?
On Wednesday, I took part in a group discussion. One of the other participants asked whether he should encourage his son to enlist in the Israeli Air Force's pilots' course at a time when our government is allowing unacceptable conduct such as Hazan's to become the norm.
Primary elections are a nerve-wracking time for politicians. They are anxious and constantly seeking to increase their campaign budgets. Sometimes, they cross the line and enter a mode referred to in the soccer world as "offside": They are looking for political salvation in a prohibited zone. This must not be permitted.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett was given the highest fine for excessive spending. The first time can end with an apology and a slap on the wrist. But when it comes down to it, such offenders resemble people who knowingly park in a prohibited space, prioritizing convenience over the subsequent fine.
A number of other lawmakers -- including Likud ministers Gila Gamliel and Miri Regev and Zionist Union MKs Erel Margalit and Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin -- were also taken to task for violations. Some were fined and others were reprimanded. Unfortunately, these lawmakers believe that the public should settle for their laconic messages that they will study the report and correct their conduct.
This is not the right way. The law must be given teeth. The state comptroller should be granted the authority to toughen penalties. The attorney general should be compelled to act more quickly. Future cases must be handled with tenacity -- neither a yellow card nor a fine, but rather a red card.
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